Ezekiel 34:15 kjv
I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 34:15 nkjv
I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down," says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 34:15 niv
I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD.
Ezekiel 34:15 esv
I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 34:15 nlt
I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign LORD.
Ezekiel 34 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 49:24 | ...from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel. | Ancestor of Messiah as Shepherd |
| Ps 23:1 | The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. | God as personal Shepherd |
| Ps 28:9 | Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them also... | Prayer for God's shepherding |
| Ps 78:70-71 | Also He chose David His servant... to shepherd Jacob His people... | David as a shepherd |
| Ps 80:1 | Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock... | God as the Shepherd of Israel |
| Isa 40:11 | He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs... | God's tender care |
| Jer 3:15 | And I will give you pastors according to My heart, who will feed... | Promise of true shepherds |
| Jer 23:3-4 | I will gather the remnant of My sheep... and I will set shepherds... | Promise of righteous shepherds |
| Jer 50:19 | I will bring Israel back to his home... | Restoration of Israel |
| Mic 5:4 | And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord... | Messiah as the Shepherd |
| Zech 10:3 | For the Destroyers have come against the habitation of the shepherds. | Judgment on false shepherds |
| Zech 11:16 | For indeed I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not... | Another prophesied shepherd |
| Matt 2:6 | "...out of you shall come a Governor who will rule My people... | Messiah's rule |
| Matt 12:20 | A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not... | Tender care |
| Matt 13:43 | Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom... | Kingdom righteousness |
| John 10:11 | I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. | Jesus as the Good Shepherd |
| John 10:14 | I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My... | Intimate knowledge |
| John 10:27-29 | My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I... | Security in Jesus |
| Acts 20:28 | Therefore take heed to yourselves and all the flock, among which... | Elders as shepherds |
| Heb 13:20 | Now may the God of peace who brought up from the dead our Lord... | Great Shepherd |
| 1 Pet 2:25 | For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to... | Returning to the Shepherd |
| 1 Pet 5:2-4 | Shepherd the flock of God which is among you... And when the Chief... | Responsibility of under-shepherds |
| Rev 7:17 | For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them... | Lamb as Shepherd |
| Rev 14:4 | These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes... | Following the Lamb |
| Rev 21:3-4 | And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the taber... | God dwelling with His people |
Ezekiel 34 verses
Ezekiel 34 15 Meaning
I will feed you. I will pasture them in the best pasture. I myself will pasture them, and I myself will cause them to lie down, says the Lord God. This verse proclaims God's direct and personal involvement in shepherding His people, offering them abundant sustenance and secure rest. It signifies a future restoration where God Himself will be their ultimate caregiver, ensuring their well-being and peace.
Ezekiel 34 15 Context
Ezekiel 34 is a powerful indictment against the corrupt shepherds of Israel – the kings and religious leaders who exploited and harmed God's people. They are condemned for failing to care for the flock, instead feeding themselves and scattering the sheep. In contrast, this chapter announces God's unwavering commitment to His people. Verse 15 signifies the shift from divine judgment to divine restoration, highlighting that God Himself will be the active shepherd, providing perfect care and assurance for His scattered flock. This promise points towards a future messianic age of peace and prosperity.
Ezekiel 34 15 Word Analysis
- אֲנִ֤י (Ani): "I" - Emphasizes God's personal and direct involvement. It's a singular pronoun showing direct agency.
- וְרָעִ֙יתִי (Werā‘îṯî): "and I will feed" or "and I will pasture" - From the root רעה (ra‘ah), meaning to shepherd, tend, feed, be a companion. It speaks of both providing sustenance and caring for.
- צֹ֥אן (Tso’n): "flock" - Refers to sheep, a collective noun for the community. Symbolizes vulnerability and dependence on the shepherd.
- בִּרְיָֽהּ (Biryâhh): "its pasture" or "its produce" or "its nourishment" - Derived from בָּרָא (bara) meaning to create, but here suggesting the best of what the land offers, implying richness and abundance. It refers to the "best pasture."
- וַאֲנִ֤י (Wa’anî): "and I" - Repetition of "I" further stresses God's personal action.
- אַרְעֶ֤נּוּ (’Ar‘enû): "will pasture them" or "will tend them" - Also from רעה (ra‘ah), reinforcing the shepherdly action, this time specifically applied to "them" (the flock).
- אָנֹכִ֥י (Anokî): "I myself" - A more emphatic form of "I," strengthening the declaration of God's personal initiative.
- וְהַשְׁכַּבְתִּ֣י (Wəhašakḇiṯî): "and I will cause to lie down" or "and I will make them lie down" - Implies providing rest, security, and peace for the flock, ensuring they are safe from danger.
Words-Group Analysis:The repeated use of "I" (אֲנִ֤י, וַאֲנִ֤י, אָנֹכִ֥י) emphasizes God's active, sovereign, and personal role in caring for His people, setting His actions apart from those of the unfaithful human shepherds. The pairing of feeding/pasturing (רָעִ֙יתִי, אַרְעֶ֤נּוּ) with causing them to lie down (וְהַשְׁכַּבְתִּ֣י) encompasses both provision and peaceful security, the complete needs of a flock. "Best pasture" (בִּרְיָֽהּ) signifies abundance and quality in God's care.
Ezekiel 34 15 Bonus Section
The promise of God Himself being the shepherd has profound theological implications. It speaks of God's immanence – His being present with His people. This intimate care echoes the relationship described in Psalm 23. The concept of "pasturing in the best pasture" hints at the spiritual richness and fullness of life found in God, anticipating the New Covenant blessings where God promises to dwell among His people and be their God. The "lying down" aspect also speaks of cessation from struggle and worry, a state of rest secured by God’s protective presence. This theme of God as shepherd is a recurring motif throughout Scripture, culminating in Christ’s identification as the Good Shepherd.
Ezekiel 34 15 Commentary
This verse is a cornerstone promise of God's personal commitment to His people. It's a divine pledge to take over the shepherding duties neglected by corrupt leaders. God will not merely appoint another human shepherd, but will Himself provide the best sustenance and secure rest. This directly contrasts the self-serving actions of the "shepherds" rebuked earlier in Ezekiel 34. The emphasis is on God's perfect care, meeting every need—provision for sustenance and peace for security. This declaration anticipates the ultimate shepherding work of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who embodies the "Good Shepherd" and the "Great Shepherd." His coming signifies the ultimate fulfillment of this divine promise.
Practical Application: believers can find assurance in God's direct care for them, even when human leadership fails. They can trust that God provides abundantly and ensures peace and security for those who belong to Him, as He faithfully shepherds them through life's challenges and into His eternal rest.